Electric train lighting, ventilating and heating system and the like.



A. H. DARKER. ELECTRIC TRAIN LIGHTING, VENTILATING AND HEATING SYSTEM, AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 4.19M.

Patented Oct. 9,1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

F/GJ.

A III A. H. DARKER.

ELECTRIC TRAIN LIGHTING, VENTILAT'ING AND HEATING SYSTEM, AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 4. I914.

PatenIzed Oct. 9, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED HENRY BARKER, OF BLACKl-IEATH, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO J. STONE &

"COMPANY LIMITED, OF DEPTFORD, ENGLAND.

ELECTRIC TRAIN LIGHTING, VENTILATING AND HEATING SYSTEM AND THE LIKE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be "it known that I, ALFRED HENRY BARKER, a subject of the King of Great Britain, and residing at Heath View, Montpelier Row, Blackheatli, in the county of Kent, England, have invented new and useful Improvements in and Relating to Electric Train Lighting, Ventilating .and Heating Systems and the like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention concerns improvements n and relating to electric lighting, ventilating and heating systems for railway tra ns and the like, and more partlcularly it 1s intended for use in connection with the lighting of dining and sleeping cars in which it is desired to control a number of lights or groups of lights independently of each other.

The object of the invention is to provide means in a system of the usual and well known type comprising a dynamo and an accumulator or accumulators, whereby the voltage at the lamp terminals is maintained at a constant value irrespective of the number of lamps or groups of lamps which are switched on.

According to this invention a double main switch is so arranged and connected up that when an additional group .or groups of lamps is or are switched in the resistance value of the system is'properly adjusted by the said switch in view of theincreased load and the dynamo voltage applied to the lamps remains constant and unaffected by variations of the load. In carrying out the invention there may be employed a main switch which is so constructed that, when minals being connected ith the respective lamp circuit.

In order that the invention may be readily Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 9, 191 '1.

understood reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 6 is a section on the line VIIVII of Flg. 4.

Referring to Fig. 1, any number of groups of lights B, C, etc., are connected by respective leads I), c, to auxiliary switches b,'0', arranged on the same switch board as that upon which the switches hereinafter described are mounted. There are two mains o and 1: which are connected with the dynamo wand accumulators s, t respectively, the current from the dynamo passing 'through the main '0, and also through the dynamo resistance '0 to the main 7', and the current from the accumulators passing through the main 1'. The auxiliary switches b, of, when closed connect the leads from the respective groups of lights with the low voltage main 7* through the connecting wires Z and with the high voltage main a; through the resistances n. The group of lights A is connected by wire a directly with the main r. The main switch '0 is a double pole switch, the left hand arm of which is in the 'main 4" so that the lamps A are turned on by the closing of the main switch, the main resistance 1) of the dynamo serving as the lamp resistance in this case. The right hand arm of the switch 0 is in the main 0. A second double pole switch 9 is inserted in the mains 1" and o for a purpose to be described. The dynamo w and batteries 8 and t, are connected through the usual change over switch m, which sf course is dispensed with in the case of a system using only a single battery the positive lead from the battery being in that case connected direct with the terminal 10 on the terminal board. The change-over switch in the example shown is of the electro-magthe connections of the two batteries each time that the dynamo is connected up, or if desired each time that the dynamo is cut out of circuit.

' The fans 1 are connected through the wire 2, switch 3, and wire 4 directly with thehigh voltage main o. The dotted line 5 represents the negative or return line of the system.

It will thus be seen that when the lamps are being supplied from the low voltage line 1, as each switch Z), 0, is closed, the current will flow from the respective wire Z connected with the low voltage line 1', through the corresponding closed switch and wire leading to the particular group of lamps, without passing through any intermediate resistance.

When however the lamps are being fed from the high voltage line 01, that is to say when the dynamo is active and is connected up, as each switch b','c, etc., is closed the current will flow through the respective resistance n in circuit with the particular switch closed and thus the resistance value in the system will be properly adjusted for maintaining constant voltage at the lamp terminals.

Provision is made with this arrangement to enable the lights to be maintained from an adjacent coach in the event of the failure of the supply on any coach. This comprises a coupling 6 at each end of the coach to which is connected the line 7 which is connected through the fuse 9 and main switch 0.

-When the current supply fails on any coach,

that coach is coupled to the adjacent coach at either end, the switch 9 is opened to disconnect the dynamo and accumulators .and the other switches on the switch board can then be used in the ordinarymanner, the

current flowing from the Ioyv'voltage line of the adjacent coach, as will be understood, the arrangement of switches and connections being similar on each coach.

The fuse 9 will blow in the event of the switch 9 being left closed when the adjacent coaches are joined up, or in theevent of a short circuit onthe switchboard.

Figs. 2 and 3, show the construction of the main switch '0, which consists of two arms 10 pivoted at 11 to brackets 12 fixed in the base 13 of suitable insulating material. The arms 10, which are joined by an insulating handle 14, make contact when in the depressed position with the contacts 15, as shown in full lines in Fig. 3 and as seen diagrammatically in Fig. 1. Attached to the base 13 is a projecting metal arm 16 having a boss or enlargement 17 at its extremity, which is adapted, when the switch arm is raised to. the dotted line position in Fig. 3, to make contact with projecting contact pieces '18 on the arms 10. When therefore the main switch 0 is opened, the mains 7' and '0 will be connected through the switch 0,-thus paralleling the accumulators as will be readily understood by reference to Fig. 1, in which only the electrical connections are shown in a diagrammatic manner, the open positionof the switch being indicated by dotted lines and the part 17, Figs. 2 and 3 being indicated by the two contacts and cross connection 17.

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 show a modified arrangement of switch and Fig. 4 includes a diagram of connections showing the switch as applied to an installation comprising only two groups of lights 19 and 20.

The switch 21 comprises two independent switch arms 22 and 23 pivoted to a bracket 24 fixed on the base 25 as showmand engaging when in the depressed position respective contacts 26 and 27. Mounted upon the arms 22 and 23 are saddle shaped metal contacts 28 fixed to and embracing the arms as shown in Fig. 6, and electrically insulated therefrom by rubber or other suitable strips 29.

Mounted upon the base 25 is a bracket 30 having two upstanding arms or projections 31, with the upper extremities of which the contacts 28 on the two arms 22 and 23 make electrical contact when the latter are in the raised position, small projecting lugs or stop pieces 32 being formed on the extremities as shown to limit the upward movement of the switch arms.

Also fixed to the base 25 are the brackets 33, 34 and 35, the saddle piece 28 on the switch arm 22 being adapted to make contact with the bracket 33 in both the raised and depressed positions, and the saddle piece on theswitch arm 23 being adapted to make contact with the bracket 34 when in the raised position and with the bracket 35 when in the depressed position, the bracket 34 overhanging the bracket 35 but being spaced therefrom and having no connection therewith. A central double bracket 36 is also attached to the base 28 with which the saddle piece on both arms 22 and 23 make contact when in the depressed position.

The wire 37 from the positive terminal of the dynamo w is connected with the terminal on the bracket 33 and the wire 38 which is connected direct with the batteries and through the resistance 1) with the dynamo, is connected with the brackets 24.

A wire 39 connects'the bracket 34 with the terminal 40 of the resistance a) the terminal 41 having the positive terminal of the dynamo w connected thereto and also the positive terminal of the battery t by a wire 42 and the positive terminal of the battery 8 is connected with the bracket 35 through a wire 43 resistance 44 and wire 45, the wire 43 being also connected to the terminal 40 of the dynamo resistance.

1,242,sas

The group of lamps 19 is connected by a wire 46 to the terminal 47 connected with the contact 26, and the group 20 is connected by a wire 48 with the terminal 49 connected with the contact 27.

Describing now the operation of the device, when the two switch arms 22 and 23 are both raised and both groups of lamps are disconnected the current will pass from the dynamo w through the wire 37 bracket 33 saddle piece 28 on the switch arm 22 bracket 31, saddle piece 28 on the switch arm 23, bracket 34, wire 39, and Wire 43 to the battery s, the resistance '22 being thus short circuited. The resistance 44 was cut out by the arm 23 being raised from the contact bracket 35.

When either the arm 22 or 23 is depressed, the current will pass from the dynamo to through the resistance a, wire 38, bracket 24, arm 22 or 23, contact 26 or 27, terminal 47 or 49, wire 46 or 48, lamps 19 or 20 and negative lead 5 back to the dynamo.

When however both arms 22 and 23 are depressed to connect up both groups of lamps, the current from the dynamo 10 will divide at the terminal 41, one part going through the resistance 12 wire 38, bracket 24, and arms 22 and 23 to the lights 19 and 20 as before, and part going through the wire 37 bracket 33 saddle 28 on arm 22, bracket 36, saddle 28 on arm 23, bracket 35, wire 45, auxiliary resistance 44, terminal 40, wire 38 and terminal on bracket 24 and thence to the lamps. It will thus be seen that the auxiliary resistance is in parallel with the resistance 1; when all the lamps are being used.

' In the event of this switch device being used with a single battery system, the wires 42, 43 and. 39 are dispensed with and the positive terminal of the battery is connected to the terminal 41.

The double armed switch 21 may in some cases, be substituted with advantage for the main switch 0 in the arrangement shown in Fig. 1.

It will thus be understood that this invention gives many advantages both as regards simplicity and ease of control the resistance being automatically adjusted to correspond with the number of lamps in circuit. Moreover it should be noted that the-arrangement can be used with either'a single or double battery system with the same advantages.

I claim 1. An electric train lighting, ventilating, and heating system comprising a battery, a dynamo adapted to charge said battery, a plurality of groups of lamps, connections between said dynamo and battery and said lamps, a plurality of resistances corresponding to the groups of lamps, and a two-part main switch, one part of which is adapted to switch in one group of lamps and its respective resistance and the other part of which is adapted to switch in another group of lamps with its resistance in parallel with the other resistance.

2. An electric train lighting, ventilating, and heating system, comprising a battery, a dynamo adapted to charge said battery, a plurality of groups of lamps, connections between said battery and dynamo and said groups of lamps, a plurality of resistances, and a plurality of switch parts, one of which when closed connects lamps directly with the battery and with the dynamo through a resistance while another partwhen closed connects lamps with the dynamo through a resistance in parallel with the first resistance.

3. An electric train lighting, ventilating, and heating system, comprising a battery, a dynamo adapted to charge said battery, a

plurality of groups of lamps, connections between said battery and dynamo and said groups of lamps, a plurality of resistances, a plurality of switch parts, one part when closed being adapted to connect lamps directly with the battery and with the dynamo through a resistance and another part when closed being adapted to connect lamps with the dynamo through a resistance in parallel with the first resistance, and a stop adapted to be contacted by said main switch parts when in the open position, said stop electrically connecting the parts of the main switch and short circuiting the first resistance.

4. An electric train lighting, ventilating, and heating system comprising a battery, a dynamo adapted to charge said battery, a plurality of groups of lamps, connections between said battery and dynamo and said lamps, a plurality of resistances, a double pole switch, one arm of which is adapted when closed to connect lamps directly with the battery and with the dynamo through a resistance and while the other arm when closed connects lamps with the dynamo through a resistance in parallel with the first resistance, and a contact piece adapted to engage the two arms when the switch is open and to make short circuit connection for the first resistance.

5. An electric train lighting, ventilating, and heating system comprising a battery, a dynamo adapted to charge said battery, two groups of lamps, connections between said dynamo and battery and said lamps, a main resistance, an auxiliary resistance and a switch having two arms, each arm cooperating with a respective terminal contact belonging to a respective group of lights, said arms having connection with said main resistance, a contact stop adapted to arrest said arms in the open position of the latter and to electricallyconnect said arms so as to short circuit the main resistance, said switch adapted when closed .to connect auxiliary 0 rectly from the battery to a lamp group and to allow the current from the dynamo to pass through a resistance to such group, another switch part being adapted to connect another lamp group and a respective re- 15 sistance in parallel with the first resistance, and a contact on the switch for enabling the system to be connected with other sources of current.

ALFRED HENRY DARKER.

Witnesses P. PHILLIPS, H. D. JAMESON. 

